Aaron Bennett

As the tray file for my last school I was building got corrupted, I present my new school creation: St Stella’s School. St Stella’s is a Boarding School for Sims aged 5 – 16. The large main building, has several teaching spaces, a swimming pool, large hall and a large hall on the 1st floor.

To the rear, is a large Boarding Block, with multiple boarding units, which are home from home! The Boarders live on 8 Units, in either single or twin Dorm Rooms. At the rear of the building, (Ground Floor) there is a large living room \ dining room, complete with a integrated kitchen. There is also a laundry room, a Boarding Admin Office and toilets.

The boarding block is setup as follows:

Boarding Block Ground Floor (Level G)

Care Staff Office

Head of Care’s Flat

Laundry Room

Toilets

Swallow Unit (Junior Admissions Unit – Male)

Eagles Unit ( Junior Admissions Unit – Female)

Communal Lounge \ Diner and Kitchen

Boarding Block (Level F)

Hawks Unit (Junior Boarding Unit Male)

Robins Unit (Junior Boarding Unit Female)

Boarding Block (Level T)

Kestrel Unit (Senior Boarding Unit (Male)

Owls Unit (Senior Boarding Unit)

Sick Bay (Medical Unit)

Boarding Block Lower Ground Floor (Level B)

Swimming Pool

Fitness Room

Changing Rooms and Showers

Keep an eye for updates, as the school is still WIP.

Exterior of the SchoolSchool ReceptionGround floor classroomReception ClassCorridor outside the Head’s OfficeHead’s OfficeStaff RoomStaff Room KitchenSt Stella’s is fortunate enough to have a indoor heated swimming pool on the lower ground floorThere is also a well equipped gym next door to the swimming poolBoarding Block Entrance Hall, which is a large Atrium, spanning 3 floors.Corridor from the other end (Swallows Unit)Unit Toilet, leading to the Shower Room (Swallows Unit)Boarding Team OfficeCommunal Lounge, which can be accessed by ALL BoardersThe Laundry Room, which has 3 washing machines and 3 dryersOn the 1st floor,. you will find the 2 Normal Junior Boarding Units. This is one of the twin dorm rooms on the Robins Unit. (Female)Robins does have a bathroom, even if it is L shaped!On all units, the corridors are carpeted. On units where the corridor is on the side of the building, curtains are added to give a more luxurious look. This is the corridor on the Robins UnitThere is a walkway from the 1st and 2nd floors, which allows pupils to walk from the Boarding Block to the main school. There is also staff and emergency access on the ground floor.And if you look down to your left… You will see I have fixed the walls and you get a really nice view of the school pond. (Complete with ducks!)At the end of each unit, there is stairs, which lead out to the playground and also access to the large common room downstairsAnd even the area under the stairs has been utilised as a tuck shop, open every evening from 7.30Twin dorm room on the Hawks OfficeHawks Unit Bathroom facilities (Both baths and showers)Hawks Unit corridorFrom above, you can see how the development of St Stella’s is coming on

Made from what I can remember and by doing just a little research, I have re-created the staff from the school I am building. that is based on my old Infants School, which I was a pupil in, during the mid 80s. (1987 – 1990)

So, lets meet the staff!

Jayne Potts – Supply Teacher

Jayne was a substitute teacher, but here I have created her as a Classroom Assistant. I don’t remember much about her, apart from her funny accent and long black hair!

Sue Downing – Teacher (Hedgehogs)

Mrs Downing was my 2nd teacher. She had red hair and was rather chunky. However, I remember her being nice though.

Christine Lord – Teacher (Otters)

Miss Lord is one of the teachers I can’t remember much about, apart from she had red hair, had hairy legs and smelt of tobacco!

Gwen Jones – Teacher (Squirrels)

Mrs Jones was lovely! I wish she was my year 2 teacher! From the Valleys of Cardiff, she was very affectionate to us at school!

Megan Johnstone – (Head Mistress)

Nicknamed “Bruised legs” because of her varicose veins, Miss Johnstone was the Headmistress, but we hardly ever saw her, only for assemblies and very little at other times.

Vanessa Vion – Year 6 Teacher (Badgers) and Deputy Head

Miss Vion used to scare us, because we always thought she was a man. She had short hair, wore the same blue v-neck jumper, white shirt, black trousers and same shoes day in day out. She never wore makeup and I was told she once wore a skirt and found it uncomfortable! Miss Vion was big on her nature films and I can remember watching them in the Library during wet break. Miss Vion is also Depuaty Head. She was strict but also very caring and if something was genuinely wrong, she would comfort and support you. She retired om;y a couple of years back, after 30 years of teaching and over 30 generations of kids!

Carol Lyons – Year 5 Teacher (Foxes)

Nicknamed “Fox Face”, due to her facial expressions, was my teacher in Year 5 and then again in Year 6. (Don’t ask) Again, I don’t remember much about her, apart from how she looked and her facial expressions!

Sylvia Taylor – Supply Teacher

Mrs Taylor is another Supply Teacher

I will probably release these Sims at the same time as the school, so keep your eyes peeled!

This creation I am working on, is based on my Infant School I went to many years ago. (Over 25 years at least!) Built in the early 80s, the school replaced the current premises at Ecclesly House at the rear of the school. The school was built using brick and rendering and is a fair good size. Because of the limitations on lot sizes on the Sims, it is not to scale and I have had to accommodate the classrooms I can’t fit in; by building a 1st floor. (Something the real school does not have) I also could not split built the ground floor, (as the real school is built into a bank) due to restrictions on the game.

The school will be soon available for download, so keep an eye on this page for updates. Meanwhile, you can keep up with the progress of the build below.

The real school that this creation is based on. (Picture Courtesy of Surrey County Council)Outside, which is still WIP. You can see the Hall at the far end with the sloped roof as well as lights on in some of the rooms still being built and those that are complete.From phoning parents when their kids are ill, to photocopying and first aid, you’re 1st port of call is the school officeBut for more serious problems, you might wish to book an appointment with Miss Johnstone, who is Headmistress.From assemblies to PE and Lunch, the Hall is the place to be! It even has it’s own projection screen, wall bars and the school piano. I remember that horrible asbestos tile floor in the hall, cold and uncomfortable on your bum!Talking of Lunch…. It is served at 12:00 from the hatch at the other end of the hallAnd… Is prepared in the school kitchenThe Library, almost identical to the real one. (Minus the PC’s. We didn’t have computers at this school that far back!) I remember watching Miss Vion’s nature films in the library when it was wet break!Talking of Miss Vion, her classroom was next to the Library and is painted pink in my Sims versionMiss Vion’s classroom – looking from Miss Vion’s deskLibrary toilets with the old “pull and clank cisterns” (This toilet is next to the Library and Miss Vion’s ClassroomMain Cloakroom, leading to the playgroundYear 2 (Mrs Downing’s Class) CloakroomLooking down the corridor from the fire exit, towards the library. You can see the Year 1 Reception Class (Miss Lord’s Class) Cloakroom to the right and the chairs outside the StaffroomReception Class (Miss Lord’s Class) I don’t remember much about Miss Lord, apart from she had very hairy legs and smelt like a full ashtray!Miss Lord’s Classroom from the blackboardDedicated play area in Miss Lord’s classroomPlay area looking towards the door. This is also the only classroom with a toilet.Mrs Jones Classroom

The Art RoomArt RoomAnd when the Teachers need a brew, they can put there feet up and have a brew. In the real staffroom, the kitchen area would be where the noticeboard is; and the entrance to the staff room would be where the end chair is. (Nearest the camera) There would also be a fire exit at the left hand side of the cameraThe fire door would be where the far end table is and the entrance to the staff room would be where the coffee machine is. However there would be a wall where the kitchen alcove is and the storage cupboard in the corridor would be in place of the kitchen; accessible from the corridor. The door to the staff room would be where the end blue chair is on the left. (There should be a coffee table where the gap in the chairs is, (on the right) I have since added this. In real life, The Year 1 and 2 cloakrooms would be further up the corridor, as there are 2 year 1 ad 2 year 2 classrooms. however, I could not build the extra classrooms, due to space restrictions on the lot.Arial View of the ground floorThe nature garden has wild flowers and a large pond. The pond bridge leads to an area where the gardening club have been growing veggies.Ive updated the pond water, to look more naturalThe beginning of the 1st floor structure addedThe 1st floor Dance and Drama Studio1st Floor Corridor from the door of the Girls Loos, looking towards the stairwell1st Floor Coridoor from the Drama Studio, looking towards the Girls Loos1st Floor corridor from the toilets, looking towards the fire escape

The IT SuiteThe IT Suite has been made bigger and now has more computers!Updated Exterior shots The 1st floor is getting there and as there is a roof space, I have added an extra floor, which means more teaching areas. This is gunna be one massive school when finished.

Bob and Betty Newby bought this house, while Bob was still practising as a Consultant Psychiatrist at Plesantview Psychiatric Hospital. He diagnosed several Sims in his time at the hospital. Notably, working with the Tragic Clown and Casandra Goth, to name a few. Of course, Dr Newby worked with care and compassion to all his patients and treated them the same way he would treat a member of his family.

The house was built for Sir John Hall in the early 1900s. After he died, the house became a Nursing Home for many years, until the late 80s. That was the time that the Newbie’s bought the house for a undisclosed price.

The real house that The Good Doctor’s House is based on, in Sheringham Norfolk.. (And sadly has now been demolished!)

Years later… Doctor Newby had to take medical retirement; so he decided to setup a part time practice at his home. He built an extension to the side of his house, which additionally benefited Betty. (as her mother was terribly ill and needed proper care.) So Betty and Bob built her a flat above his practice, for her.

Then, 8 years ago, the Clown Catchers, (A division of the Pleasant Valley FBI) raided Dr Newbie’s home and found out that he was hiding Sunny the Tragic Clown in his attic. Dr Newbie was jailed for 12 years, for ading and abetting a wanted criminal. Meanwhile Betty ran off with Fire Fighter Freddie and moved to Belladonna Cove. The house was subsequent;y put up for sale.

Updated exterior view. I have fixed the walls so the two bay windows are in the same position either side of the main building. (Photo taken from Estuary Lane)I also added down pipes on various parts of the roof and added outside lighting on the drive and under the porch. On top of this, I fixed the dorma windows to make them level and look more realistic. This meant that one of the chimneys had to be moved and I had to change the type of windows used on the dormas. (Photo taken from Ocean View Drive)Front of the house has been rendered white on the front Gable and the 1st floor Bay Windows. (Photo taken from Estuary Lane)I finished off the rendering and made the whole 1st floor front wall this nice white. Similer to the photo of the real building. (Photo taken from the roof of the garage at 117 O1cean View Drive)The LobbyThe Cream Drawing Room, complete with fireplaceThe Red Dining RoomThe Contemporary Kitchen, complete with Breakfast BarReception at Doctor Newbie’s PracticeOne of the Treatment Rooms in Doctor Newbie’s PracticeCorridor in Doctor Newbie’s PracticeFirst Floor Landing with a door to the covered BalconyOne of the Front BedroomsFront Bedroom 2The Annex Master Bedroom

The spare room in the Annex. Note the portrait of the Tragic Mime Clown that hangs above the bedMain House Utility RoomKitchen in the main house, looking towards the Utility RoomAnnex Shower

Annex Ensuite BathroomLarge Garden, including Gazebo which is surrounded by a water feature.

Required Expansions and Games Packs: Get To Work, Cats And Dogs, Get Together, Parenthood Game Pack, Vampires Game Pack, Dine Out Game Pack, Spa Day and Outdoor Retreat Game Packs

415622 approaches Hastings Railway Station, as 415217 (the player train) prepares to depart. Meanwhile, 415627 allows passengers to alight. (As it has terminated at Hastings.)

I have been scenario building again on Train Simulator again. This time, I am creating a morning passenger service, from Hastings to Tonbridge. The weather is wet and windy, so there is the risk of wheel slips, due to poor rail adhesion. The scenario uses a Class 416 EPB (Electric Pneumatic Brake) Yes, it’s a slammer; which means we are going back in time to the 1980s! (Back to Network South East, with it’s iconic “Toothpaste Livery!”)

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I will post more information on this scenario, with screenshots; as the development of this scenario continues.

well, I did say I need to get my personal website back up and running, so here it is! The website is still under construction, so please bear with me as I get the various pages on this site organized.

In the meantime, if you need to contact me, you may do so via email: aaron@aaron-bennett.co.uk or my Facebook. I am having some problems with emails on the website, so I will not be checking them as much. I will however, try to use webmail as much as possible!